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Rigid plastics recycling, excluding bottles, exceeded 1 billion pounds in 2012, an increase of 10 percent over 2011. That is triple the amount recycled in 2007 when the industry first began tracking rigid plastics recycling, according to the American Chemistry Council.

Primary domestic end uses for recycled rigid plastics include crates, buckets, pipe, auto parts, and lawn and garden products. Consumer products such as cutting boards, food storage containers and other types of kitchenware are becoming popular end uses, as are toothbrushes and razors. A small portion of recycled rigid plastics is used in composite materials for products such as outdoor lumber, pallets and railroad ties.